Mr Fogarty received about 40 puncture wounds to his calf, as well as razor-like cuts on his fist from fighting off the predator.

Yesterday he met the Illawarra Mercury at the scene of the attack, which is thought to have involved a 1.5m bull shark. Accompanied by family members, he gazed out at the empty waters which were ominously quiet.

"I came down last night with some friends for a few minutes," Mr Fogarty said. "It made the hairs on the back of my arms stand up a bit. It was a bit scary but looking out there now you'd think there's nothing that can hurt you.

"I was pretty restless last night. I didn't sleep a great deal, I laid back and counted my blessings. I had a nightmare as soon as I fell asleep and then that kept me awake. I felt like I was stuck in a dream. I was screaming for help and there was no-one there to help - it was just like yesterday."

Mr Fogarty's cries for help were ignored by a number of people passing by on boats and over the bridge. He was eventually rescued by Koonawarra fisherman Pete Holm, who hauled him out of the water and onto his boat.

"My parents have always taught me it's not hard to say hello and to give help if you're asked for it. Yesterday everybody just turned their back on me. If (Mr Holm) hadn't stopped, I don't know if I could have swam back and whatever it was would have still been there somewhere," Mr Fogarty said.

Despite the terrifying events, Mr Fogarty insists he will continue to swim and snorkel in the lake.

"I will go back in the lake but not at the moment," he said.

"I've done it my whole life. You've just got to understand (sharks) are there and you're swimming in their backyard."

However, he said he would no longer be taking his 10-year-old cousin Reece Pulo on any snorkelling expeditions.

"He normally comes with me but I wouldn't let him go now," he said.

Wife Amanda knows better than to try and deter her husband from returning to the lake.

"I want him to go back in the water," she said.

Mr Fogarty's mother, Julia, also of Windang, said Steven's father, John, would also continue to swim in the lake.

"(Sharks) won't bother him but I think (Steven and his father) will go out together now. I will worry when they go out,"she said.

Mr Fogarty is due to return to Shellharbour Hospital today for a check-up.

The 24-year-old spoke to waiting media as he left Shellharbour Hospital, saying he would be a little more wary about entering the water again after being attacked by the shark in Lake Illawarra this morning.

``I won't be having a bath for a while, I'm a bit scared of the water now,'' he said.

``(But) I'll get back out there.''

Mr Fogarty said he often swam with his 10-year-old cousin.

``One of the things I thought about was how lucky it was he wasn't with me,'' he said.

Mr Fogarty suffered 40 puncture wounds to his right calf and abrasions to his right fist in the attack.